Internet disruptions ripple across Asia and Middle East after Red Sea cable cuts

Under sea cables

Internet services across Asia and the Middle East slowed down on Sunday after multiple undersea cable cuts near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The exact cause remains unclear, but the incident hit two of the region’s most important data lifelines — the South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 (SMW4) and the India-Middle East-Western Europe (IMEWE) cables.

NetBlocks, which tracks global internet performance, confirmed disruptions in several countries, including India. Microsoft also flagged issues on its service status page, warning users in the Middle East of “increased latency” though it clarified that traffic routed outside the region was unaffected.

Why it matters

Subsea cables carry the bulk of the world’s internet traffic. While networks can divert data through other routes, rerouting comes at a cost: slower speeds and congestion. Repairing such cables is no quick fix either. Specialised ships must locate and mend the lines, a process that often stretches into weeks.

The incident arrives at a time of heightened tension in the Red Sea. Since late 2023, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have targeted commercial shipping, claiming pressure tactics against Israel over Gaza. Although there have been suspicions of sabotage, the Houthis have consistently denied attacking subsea internet infrastructure.

At this stage, the precise cause of the disruption remains uncertain — but for millions of users across Asia and the Middle East, the impact was immediate and tangible.